Improvement in valves for condensers



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GEORGE H. REYNOLDS, 0F NEW YORILN. Y., ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, GOR- NELUSH. DELAMATER, AND ALEXANDER K. RIDER, 0E SAME PLACE.Y

Letters Patent No. 112,183, dated February 28, 1871.

IMPROVEMENT IN VALVES FOR CONDENSERS.

To all whom it may cauce/rn Be it known that I, GEORGE H. REYNOLDS, ofthe city and county of New York, in the State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Valves and Connected Parts inGondensing Steam-Engines; and l do hereby declare that the following isa full and exact description thereof'.

My invention is intended to better provide for relieving the condenserand all parts from strain in cases where a tubular condenser is employedand from any cause becomes hot and fails to properly condense the steam.It provides automatically, and without evenv a momentary interruption ofthe action of' the engine, for a f'ull and complete change of the enginefrom contie-using to non-condensing, and vice corsa. lt provides acheap, tight, and noise-less seat, of' rubber or analogous' material,for the valve under ordinary conditions, and guards eifectually againstdanger ot total failure in case the rubber or its equivalent becomespractically or entirely destroyed or removed.

l will proceed to describe what I consider the best means of carryingout my invention.

The accompanying drawing forms a part of' this specification.

Figure l is a central vertical section on a small scale;

Figure?, is a section, full` size, showing the valve 'closed in itsordinary condition and Figure 3 is a corresponding section showing thevalve closed in an unusual condition.

The drawing shows only the vnovel parts, with so much of the other partsas is necessary to show their relation thereto.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parte in the drawing.

A* is a branch or T from a hollow casting. It is connected by the flangea to the exhaust-port of an engine, not represented.

Through this the steam from the engine is conducted freely intothevertical pipe or chamber' A?, having a peculiar duplex valve-seat atthe top and a provision for a langed or other connection to a condenser(not represented) at the bottom.

The valve-seat is finished conically on its inner edge B', and adaptedto receive a conicallydaced valve. A little outside of and concentric tothis 'conical seat, it is deeply recessed, and the recess is tilled withrubber.

The rubber E is a ring of well-vulcanized material of a dovetailedsection. It is crowded into the correspondingly-dovetailed recess, coredor otherwise formed in the casting. llt should project a little abovethe lt is so arranged that the valve in sinking will slightly compressthe rubber and form a tight seat by resting thereon.

Dis a poppet-valve, suitably mounted and guided, so as to have simply arising and sinking motion.

There is a stout lip, D', ou its under face, adaptedv to lit tightlywithin the conical seat at the top of the apparatus.

Goucentric to vthis lip D', outside thereof, is, first, a

little space, as indicated by m, and next, a suflciently broadcontinuous bearing extending quite around.

lVhen working under these conditions the lip D' does not sink quite to abearing against the corresponding conical surface below, but stands oli'at a distance ot' .one-sixteenth of an inch, more or less, when thevalve is tightly resting on the rubber E. But when the rubher fails,from being dissolved by oil or-other solvent, from being compressed bytoo great mechanical force, and caused to change its form, or, (a verycommon contingency,) in case the rubber becomes removedaltogethcr, orfails from any cause whatever, then the valve D will sink a little lowerthan before, and come to a bearing with its conical lip D fitting firmlyand tightly into the corresponding conical seat below. In other words,the valve rests upon rubber when in full and perfect working order; butwhen the rubber is washed ont a violent action ofthe water, or becomesotherwise removed, deranged, or ineffective, then the valve sinks a verylittle lower, and comes to a bearing on its conical face, and stillformsa tight fit.

The valve-seat and the .valve fitting thereon should be inclosed, asrepresented, within the globular' or swelled casing G', at the foot of asuitable escape-pipe or chimney G.

The stem d of the valve D may be guided in one o r more steadiments, H,within the casingAz.

A lever, I,pivoted at t', may also be connected, as shown, to allow itto be aided in its rising orvsinkiug motion, as required in anyparticular exigency.

supposing the parts suitably connected and the condenser properlysuppliedl with cold water, my valve D will sink to a fair buttightybearing on the rubber ring E, and will not rise while the workproceeds under ordinary conditions. But when, from any cause, as auunusual quantity of steam or extraordinary speed in the engine, or areduction in the quantity of condensing water, or the like, the pressurein the condenser, and consequently in the casing A2, increases until itequals and alittle exceeds thatof' the atmosphere, the valve D rises andallows the steam to escape freely.

There may be circumstances under which it is desii-able to work for aconsiderable period under these conditions. In such case the valve Dremains open either of itself', or is held'open by the aid of the leverI, and the steam travels directly up past it into the escape-pipe G andis discharged into the atmosphere.

Rubber has been before fitted to the working faces of valves or seats,to reduce noise and concussions and secure tightness. Itis not unusual,in quick-working propellers and other steam vessels, for circumstancesto arise which partially destroy or entirely throw ont such rubber. Insuch cases my engine will work-successfully until yport is reached, byreason ofthe tight lit ofthe part D' on its seat.

ln practice a pair of engines, or even one engine working at -fullforce, with imperfect condensation, lift-s thevalve D up clear of itsseat, causing it to eitherl stand steadily or to dance'in that position.In either event the steam esc-apes without inducing any appreciable backpressure against the piston ofthe engine.

The steam which escapes from my valve D has'not been in the condenser,and has in 'no wise contributed to the heating thereof. When my engineworks condensingly my valvell.) remains tight upon its seat.

When it has occasion to change to working non-con@- densingly, or todischarge any part of its vsteam uncondensed, the valve D automaticallyrises, and constitutes the engine, either entirely or partially, anoncondensing engine. v

The change in the opposite direction is equally easy and instantaneous.The moment the pressure ofthe steam in the condenser is reduced bycondensation below that of the atmosphere, the steam begins to enterit'and the valve D begins to fall during some portion. of each stroke.When the pressure in the condenser v /is reduced suiiiciently to receiveand dispose of all the steam which issues from the engiues,;.th e valve,D again remains tightly closed; My arrangemenroi the valve and passagesdiffers from any before known to me in the convenience and. completenesswith which it provides for all exigencias.4

A slight cord attached to the lever I and tied to any point above holdsup the valve steadily, and allows the engine to work high pressure', notonly without Hutter ofthe valve, but also absolutely without'any.resistance from the condenser. This is very dilferent from any valve onthe condenser to allowl steamto escape from the condenser, because itnot only avoids there'- sistance of the wat'er, but also all frictiondue to passing among and through pipes and passages'iu the con# denser.`v

It should be remarked that in most vesselsthecon-r denser is below thelevel of the sea, and becomes immediately lled with water when thrownout of use,

and an engine exhausting into the air through a condenser is in mostcases impracticable for that reason.

I claim as my invention- 1. The within-described arrangement of thepassages Al A relatively to lthe steam coming from theeugine' ,and tothe condenser, land to the large tight self-acting valve D, the latter.being provided with means for holding it steadily open, in addition tobeing free to act automatically, all substantially as herein set forth.

2; The within-described construction and arrangement of the'val've withIndia-rubber or other elastic and noiseless seat, and with a separate,seat to serve when the rubber shall fail, all substantially'as hereinspecied. g

In testimony whereof I vhave hereunto set my name in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

GEO. E. REYNOLDS.

Witnesses:

A. HOEBMANN, O. O. Lrvmes.

